Suffolk Slant: Top 10

My first blog of the 2012 Suffolk boys lacrosse season is all about early statements.

St. Anthony’s, despite playing without North Carolina-bound goalie Kieran Burke, lost a 6-5 thriller to rival Chaminade but looks to have another deep, balanced team. Backup goalie Eric Caliendo started slow, allowing five first-quarter goals against the Flyers, but recovered to play brilliantly and nearly pulled out the victory. Brian Sherlock has 14 goals in the Friars’ first five games.

Smithtown West is once again a high scoring machine and proved that with a convincing victory over preseason No. 2 seed Ward Melville in a Division I matchup. James Pannell wasn’t even the high scorer in that game, as Matt Schultz scored four goals. Schultz has 21 goals.

West Islip was impressive in a 14-3 victory over previously unbeaten Sachem North. The Lions’ attack duo of Tom Moore (5) and Brendan Smith (3) combined for eight goals and Nick Aponte had his best game of the season with two goals and three assists. In a 20-5 win over North Babylon, Moore  (4) and Smith (5) combined for nine more tallies.

Comsewogue, which won its first 16 games last season before a stunning Class B playoff loss to Huntington, is rolling again. The Warriors walloped previously undefeated Eastport-South Manor, 16-5. The midfield tandem of Matt Cossidente and Tom Hughes were in synch with four goals each. Hughes leads Suffolk with 25 goals.

Sayville looks like it will be a legitimate challenger to Comsewogue in Division II after an 8-7 victory over Shoreham-Wading River on Thursday. Zach Sirico scored the tying goal in regulation and assisted on the game-winner 38 seconds into overtime. Sirico is two points behind Hauppauge’s Sam Llinares (39 points) for the scoring leadership in Suffolk.

More statements will be made next week. There are two huge games – Comsewogue at Sayville at 4 p.m. on Wednesday and West Islip at Smithtown Est at 7 p.m. on Thursday. The latter is a rematch of last year’s Suffolk Class A championship game, won by West Islip in overtime, and it wouldn’t surprise me if these are the two county finalists this spring.

Zog’s Top 10

1. St. Anthony’s (4-1)

2. Smithtown West (6-0)

3. West Islip (5-1)

4. Comsewogue (6-0)

5. Ward Melville (5-2)

6. Sachem North (5-1)

7. Hauppauge (4-1)

8. Sayville (5-1)

9. Shoreham-WR (4-1)

10. Bay Shore (4-2)